Ash-removing device



April 29, 1930. c, H, HALL 1,756,025

ASH REMOVING DEVICE Filed July 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Snee't 1 l I lllll IN VEN Z'OR.

BY W

ATTORNEYfi April 29, c H, H 1 1,756,025

ASH REMOVING DEVICE Filed July 9 1 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO ET 4 WATTORNEYIS.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COBTIOE H. HALL, OFPA'IERSON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO DOMESTIC STOKEB COM- PANY, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ASE-REMOVING DEVICE Applicationfiled July 9,

This invention relates generally to devices for automatically removingashes from furnaces, and more particularly to a device of this generalnature which is especially adapted for use with furnaces or heaters ofthe household or domestic type.

It is well known that in the operation of household furnaces asordinarily conducted there is occasion at frequent intervals to manuallyshovel ashes from the ash pit of the furnace into the receptacle inwhich they are carried from the premises. Not only is the work ofremoving ashes in this manner onerous and objectionable in its verynature but the handling of ashes with a shovel produces an undue amountof dust and litter. In addition the cleaning-out operation is likely tobe forgotten or overlooked with a resulting overlling and clogging ofthe furnace ash pit.

- A general object of this invention is to eliminate the objectionablework ofshoveling ashes in tending a domestic furnace and to provide adevice which will operate auto matically to remove ashes from a furnaceash pit and discharge them into a suitable receptacle for convenienthandling and disposal.

An ash remover designed'to fulfil the required conditions should includemeans for conveying ashes horizontally from the ash pit beneaththefurnace to a point outside the wall of the furnace, and additionalconveying means-for elevating the ashes for discharge into an ash can orother receptacle. An apparatus embodying the above features is describedand claimed in the prior Wightman application for Patent Serial No.712,- 194, filed May 10, 1924.

The present invention is of the same general type as that described inthe application referred to but includes improvements and features whichincrease the eflicieney and certainty of operation of the apparatuswithout attention and insure the maintenance of the ash pit in acondition free from accumulations of ash and clinkers.

The invention includes means adapted to be mounted in the furnace-ashpit for directi ng clinkers falling from the burner into the range ofaction of the conveyor. While the 1925. Serial No. 42,350.

directing means will fimction with the more finely divided ashes also,it is particularly desirable that the rou h and irregularly shapedclinker masses be directed into the path of the conveyor in order toobviate the possibility of a clogging or bridging action that wouldprevent the deposit of ashes or clinkers in the conveyor.

The invention also includes means for permitting a yielding action ofthe conveyor mechanism to prevent clogging or jamming shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings for a more de-' tailed description of theinvention, an ash remover for household furnaces is shown in Figure 1 ofthe drawing and includes a screw conveyor 10 operating in a horizontal?disposed pipe or conduit 11 which exten s from a point within the ashpit chamber to a point outside the outer wall of the furnace. From theouter end of the pipe 11 a conveyor 12 extends in an upwardly inclineddirection to convey ashes from the point of discharge of the screwconveyor 10 for delivery into a suitable ash can or other receptacle 13for final removal and disposal.

The invention includes means adapted to be mounted within the ash itchamber, which will function to guide or ect clinkers and ashes fallingfrom the'fire pot of the furnace into the range of action of theconveyor 10. This means takes the form of a set of inclined directingmembers 14 which are placed in flankin relation to the fire pot 15 ofthe furnace w ich, in the particular insta-llatlon shown, is of theunderfeed type. The directing members 14 extend from elevated points 16located at oppositely disposed points in thetransverse axis of the firepot.

downwardly and in curved paths following in general the circularcurvature of the outer rim 17 of the fire pot over which ashes andclinkers fall as the fuel is consumed. It will be seen that thedirecting members 14 are cut away as at 19 to provide space in which toreceive the fire pot parts. Finely divided ashes may accumulate on bothsides of the channel 18 through the openings 19 but there is noobjection to this since the ashes will find their way into the-channelwhen the accumulations have reached a suflicient depth.

The material thus received on the directing members 14 is guided into atrough or channel 18 which is disposed longitudinally of the ash pitchamber beneath the fire pot and the feeding mechanism therefor. Thescrew conveyor 10 extends longitudinally of the channel 18 and therebyoccupies a position wherein ashes directed into the channel are engagedby the helical flange or screw of the conveyor and impelled outwardlythrough the conduit 11, as will be clear.

. The elevator or lifting conveyor 12 includes a casing 20 whose lowerend is coincident with the exterior terminus of the screw conveyorconduit 11 and rises in an inclined position in which it is supported byan adjustable standard or leg 21 held in place in a bracket 22 by meansof a set screw 23. The elevator conveyor casing 20 is provided with adown wardly opening discharge outlet 24 located at a convenient heightto discharge into the removable receptacle 13.

WVithin the casing 20 which is conveniently formed in two sections sothat the forward wall 25 of the casing may be completely removed foraccess to the working parts, a conveyor 26 of the chainor link type ismounted for operation. The conveyor chain 26 includes flights or ashmoving members 27 preferably formed integrally with links in the chain26. In the form of the invention shown the flights 27 extend laterallyto one side of the chain to thereby provide a wider and more effectiveworking path than is provided by the width of the chain itself.

The conveyor chain 26 passes around a sprocket wheel 27 at the lower endof its course, the sprocket wheel being rotatable with he shaft 28 ofthe screw conveyor 10 through a keyed connection 29 therewith. With thisconstruction it will be seen that the shaft of the horizontal conveyor10 serves as a driving member for the elevating con veyor 20.

11 order to protect the j ournaled parts associated with the sprocketwheel 27' and conveyor shaft 28 from the action of ashes and .dust aspecial bearing construction is provided. This construction includes anelongated hub'member 30 having a flange 31 at its inner end which isattached to the forward face of the conveyor casing cover 25 by means oflag screws 32 or the like. l-Vithin the elongated bearing provided bythe hub member 30 is'journaled a sleeve member 33' which is immovablyassociated with the shaft 28 and the sprocket gear27'. by means of thekey 29. The inner end of the hub member 30 is provided with an axialextension 34 which is adapted to rotate within a circular opening 35formed in the cover member 25. Also received in the circular opening 35in the cover member 25 is a cup-shaped housing or protecting member 36,the open or recessed side of the cup-shaped member being filled with anoil-soaked felt washer or the like 37. With this construction a hearingis provided in which the journaled parts are protected from thedestructive effects of ashes and dust. I

The upper end of the elevating conveyor 20 is provided with a sprocketwheel 38 around which the conveyor chain 26 is passed. The shaft 43 ofthe sprocket gear 38 is provided with ball bearing devices 39 mounted incupshaped recesses 40 in a U-shaped frame member 41 which is mounted inflanking relation to the opposite lateral faces of the upper end of thecasing of the conveyor 20.-

In order to provide for a resilient or yielding action of the elevatingconveyor 20 in the event that a clinker becomes-jammed or wedged in theelevating apparatus, the U- shaped frame member 41 which carries theshaft 43 of the sprocket gear 38 is arranged to slide longitudinally ofthe casing of the elevating conveyor 20. To effect this the oppositesides of the casing of the conveyor 20 are provided with slots 44through which the cup-shaped members 40 housing the bearings for thesprocket shaft 43 extend for movement longitudinally of the slots 44.The outer or upper extremity of the conveyor casing 20 is provided witha pin or stud 45 on which is mounted an abutment member 46 forming aseat for a compression spring 47, the outer end of which is received ina recess 48 formed in the base portion of the U- shaped framework 41.lVith the structure thus described it will be seen that the spring 47acts to force or tend to force the frame member 41 outwardly whilepermitting yielding movement of the sprocket 38 inwardly or downwardlyin the event of a jam or obstruction in the operating parts.

The tension of the spring 47 maybe adjusted as desired by rotating theabutment member 46 on the pin 45 and locking it in adjusted position bymeans of the lock nut 49. In order to guide the frame member 41 and properly direct its movement, guide screws 50 are provided which projectthrough slots 51 r formed in the frame 41 and into the sides of areprovided which have terminal projections 53 which enter and move in thegulde slots 51. The oppositely disposed upstanding portions 54 engageflat faces of the heads of the screws 0 to prevent loosening or turningof the screws in their'seats.

In order to operate the device described a sprocket wheel 55 is providedover which a suitable sprocket chain connection such as is shown at 56in Figure 1 is passed to apply power to the operating parts. Thesprocket wheel 56 may conveniently receive power from a sprocket wheel57 forming part of suitable fuel feeding or stoking apparatus in whichthe'hopper member 58 is included.

In order to guard against the breakage of parts when an obstruction orjamming action of either conveyor takes place, a frangible member isprovided which will shear or give way to relieve the stress or straindeveloped, under such conditions. The means chosen for the purpose takesthe form of a collar member 58 having a toothed or clutched connectionasat 59 with the hub flange on the sprocket wheel 55. The collar 58 isattached to the shaft 28 to convey rotative movement thereto by means ofa cotter pin or pins 60 or equivalent key members which will shear underan undue stress applied to the driva simple matter to remove thecollar58 ing .gear 55. With this construction it is and replace thefrangible or yieldable member 60 without the necessity for disassemblingthe remainder of the driving structure.

What I claim is 1. In an ash remover for furnaces the combination with afire pot of the underfeed type of a horizontally arranged screw conveyoradapted to extendinto the furnace ash pit beneath the fire pot to removeashes therefrom helically inclined members arranged to direct ashesfalling from the rim of the fire pot into the conveyor, a casing inwhich the conveyor operates, an elongated bearing member at the outerend of the casing through which the conveyor shaft projects, a sprocketwheel rotatably mounted on .the shaft adjacent the outer end of thebearing member, a sleeve member removably mounted on the shaft andhaving a toothed engagement with the hub of the sprocket Wheel wherebyto be rotated thereby, and a cotter pinconnecting the sleeve to theshaft. 1

2. Ina furnace of the underfeed type, the combination with asubstantially circular fire pot with an ash pit therebeneath of ahorizontally arranged screw conveyor extending into the ash pit-towithdraw ashes and clinkers therefrom, a tubular casing for the conveyoropen along its upper wall in the portion extending into theash pit,said' conveyor extending across the ash pit chamber substantially at thecentral part thereof and semiscircular directing memberspositionedbeneath the rim of the fire pot to receive ashes falling therefrom andhaving apex points located in flanking relation to the conveyor, saiddirecting members being inclined downwardly from the apex points todischarge into the conveyor casing ashes and clinkers received from thecircular rim of the fire pot.

3. In a furnace of the underfeed type, the combination with a fire pothaving a circumscribing rim from the outer edge of which ashes aredischarged with an'ash pit therebeneath, a horizontally arrangedconveyor extending into the furnace ash pit to withdraw ashes therefrom,helically inclined members mounted in the ash pit beneath the rim of thefire pot to receive ashes falling therefrom and to direct said ashesinto the range of action of the conveyor, together with means forreceiving ashes from the horizontally arranged conveyor and elevatingthem for discharge into a receptacle.

4. In an ash remover for furnaces of the underfeed type, a horizontallyarranged conveyor adapted to extend across the floor of the furnace ashpit beneath the fire pot and helically inclined ash directing membersarranged to receive ashes falling from the upperand outer edge of thefire pot and to deflect the ashes into the range of action of theconveyor.

5. In a furnace of the underfeed type, the combination with a fire potof an ash pit therebeneath, a horizontally arranged conveyor extendingacross the floor of the furnace ash pit beneath the fire pot, atroughshaped member in which said conveyor opcrates, helically inclinedwing members adapted to be removably attached to the sides of thetrough-shaped members, said wing members being beneath the outer edge ofthe fire pot to receive ashes falling from the rim of the fire pot andat opposite sides thereof whereby ashes falling from the outer edge ofthe fire pot will be deflected into the range of action of the conveyor.

6. In a furnace of the underfeed type, the combination with a fire potof an ash pit therebeneath, a horizontally arranged screw conveyoradapted to extend into the furnace permit the sleeve and the sprocketwheel to turn freely on the shaft in the event that the operation of theconveyor is obstructed.

7. An-ash remover for furnaces of the underfe'ed type arranged todischarge ashes v over the outer edge of the fire rim comprising, incombination a horizontally arranged conveyor adapted to extend into thefurnace ash pit below the rim of the fire pot to withdraw ashes andclinkers therefrom and means shaped to follow the contour of the outerrim of the fire pot to be mounted in the ash pit beneath and adjacenttherim of the fire pot to direct ashes and clinkers falling from thefire pot into the range of action of the conveyor.

8. An ash remover for furnaces of the underfeed type arranged todischarge ashes over the outer edge of the fire pot rim comprising, incombination a horizontally arranged conve or adapted to extend into thefurnace ash pit below the rim of the fire pot to withdraw ashes andclinkers therefrom and inclined directing members arranged to be mountedin the ash pit on opposite sides of the rim of the fire pot andfollowing the contour of the outer edge thereof to deflect ashes andclinkers falling from the fire pot into the conveyor.

9. An ash remover for furnaces of the underfeed type having a circularedge and an ash pit therebeneath comprising, a horizontally arrangedconveyor adapted to extend into and across the furnace ash pitsubstantially at the central part thereof and inclined directingapproximately semi-circular members shaped to follow the contour of theouter edge of the fire pot and adapted to be mounted in the ash pit onopposite sides of the fire pot and sloping inwardly to deflect ashes andclinkers falling from the fire pot into the conveyor. I

10. Anash remover for furnaces of the underfeed type having a circularfire pot arranged to discharge ashes over the outer edge thereofcomprising, a horizontally arranged conveyor adapted to extend into thefurnace ash pit and comprising a trough and a conveyor screw operatingtherein and inclined directing approximately semi-circular membersshaped to follow the contour of the outer edge of the fire pot andadapted to slope inwardly and downwardly to direct ashes and clinkersfalling from the rim of the fire pot downwardly and inwardly into saidtrough.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York,this 1st day of July, 1925.

, CORTICE H. HALL.

